The Importance of American Christians Publicly Speaking Out

Todd Starnes of FoxNews recently celebrated the reversal of Oklahoma’s East Central University plans to remove Bibles, crosses and other religious items from their campus chapel. The University made the initial decision after receiving a legal threat from Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.

Starnes attributed the change of mind to his readers contacting the University to express their disagreement. It appears the University had made its decision based on the “loudest voice in the room,” and only after Starnes’ column was published and other voices spoke up did they consider that the heckler need not be granted a universal veto.

The power of the American citizen’s voice should not be underestimated — and the impact of the absence of the Christian citizen’s voice cannot be overstated.

Just a couple of months ago Tennessee legislator Mark Green lost a potential position as Secretary of the Army — because of the voices of the homosexual movement who disliked his Christian worldview. At the time, retired LtGen Jerry Boykin lamented the lack of voices speaking up in defense of Green — those who might share his worldview and want to see a man of faith lead our nation’s military. Or, for that matter, just those who supported religious freedom in the United States, irrespective of any specific faith.

Even now, actions like those by US Rep Vicki Hartzler (R-MO) are being vociferously opposed by LGBT activists — and “supported” by an almost entirely silent Christian populace. Hartzler had proposed legislation that would have prevented the military from performing “transgender” transitions — a topic that should be moot, since transgenders can’t enlist in the US military (those that currently serve gained access in violation of military policy).

Again, the same sexual lobbyists (like Ashley Broadway’s AMPA) have worked their way into the press , framing traditional morality and Christians as attempting to launch an “attack” intended to “inflame the culture wars.” They’ve even organized political call-ins. Though they often decry the characterization, there is no doubt there is a homosexual “movement”, and they fully intend to influence the nation and its politics to their social ends.

All the while, it seems, Christians have chosen to influence the culture by doing essentially nothing.

Michael “Mikey” Weinstein has coerced the US military to accede to his demands in similar fashion, threatening legal action or the like if a military commander does not bow to his wishes. In some cases, the military has kowtowed in an apparent effort “not to offend anyone” — though they quickly found out that they’d succeeded in offending everyone else, once the news broke that they’d obeyed Weinstein’s commands. As a result, many of Weinstein’s “victories” have been reversed, and he has lost substantial credibility in the public.

That only came, however, after religious freedom advocates — and Christians — raised their voices to oppose his bigotry.

Likely for that reason, Mikey Weinstein has gone somewhat underground, making his demands quietly and not publicizing them until long after the decisions have been made. And even then, he publishes few details so true religious liberty organizations can’t identify the issue and contact the military to undo Weinstein’s demands.

Weinstein’s attacks on military religious freedom are so precarious he has to protect them with secrecy. He knows that if the story gets out, he’ll lose.

Public support — Christian voices — can and will make a difference, as will their absence. Even Mikey Weinstein knows this.

If you want to make a difference in this world, you need to speak up. If you don’t, others will speak for you — and the result may not be the Nation, culture, or world you want to see.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
– Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV)